Do you want to give your winter home decor a lift? Are you hoping to make small changes that will improve your curb appeal? You might be surprised to learn that you can achieve both of those goals by simply upgrading your front door styling. By focusing on nature-inspired ideas and an array of paint colors and textures, you can make your home’s front door into an attractive showpiece this winter.
Repaint Your Front Door
Traditional wisdom made repainting your home’s front door in winter unheard of, but modern paint technology means that you don’t have to live in Southern California or Florida to refresh your front door with new paint now. If the temperatures are projected to stay above 35 degrees on and around your painting days, the most challenging part of this winter home decor project is choosing the color you love the most.
Southern Living is a fan of giving your home a facelift by elevating your front door with a pop of color. But take it slowly first. The Magazine recommends: “Before going all in on one color, test a few shades to see which works best with your home’s existing facade. Brush on a few different hues, and see how they look in the sunlight at different points throughout the day.” The Magazine loves choosing a bright yellow that evokes a Mid-Century Modern feel, a deep blue “like Naval (SW 6244) by Sherwin-Williams, to complement a white façade,” “all-American red (Heritage Red (HC-181) by Benjamin Moore) for a Tudor-style home,” or a deep plum that works “best for Georgian architecture.”
Design Winter Container Gardens
We often forget that there are beautiful nature-inspired decor options that can bring joy to your doorstep even in winter. Southern Living agrees. If you took the first step of repainting your front door, the Magazine offers this tip: “To take your curb appeal project a step further, pair a freshly painted front door with a grouping of seasonal containers.”
Better Homes & Gardens enjoys creating winter container gardens as a way to brighten front doorsteps, porches, and decks. They advise creating displays that “aim to have a bold focal point in the center and include something that drapes over the side (think: thriller, filler, and spiller).” Do you love the look of evergreens? If so, follow the Magazine’s lead by placing narrow birch branches in the center of your container and fir branches around the bottom of the birch. Then, “tuck in pine, cedar, and juniper branches around the container until you have a full arrangement.” From there, Better Homes & Gardens suggests that you can get additional visual intrigue by arranging winterberry stems or “dried hydrangeas, pinecones, or dried seed pods” as accents (which should be placed in front, if the container is pushed up against the exterior wall. And, voila! You have appealing winter home decor that will look fantastic throughout the season.
Hang a Winter Wreath
Wreaths are not just for the holidays. Depending on how they are crafted, wreaths can be the perfect way to transition your front door from holiday festive to winter chic. Martha Stewart Living is a fan of crafting wood flower wreaths because, unlike flowers that may wilt as soon as the temperatures dip, the “tapioca wood flowers used in [our] easy-to-make wreath will be in ‘bloom’ throughout the season’s holidays and the years to come.” Other wreath options that make their “must-try” lists include hard-shelled nut wreaths, succulent wreaths, and, of course, pinecone wreaths accented with winter berries.
One of Southern Living’s favorite wreaths incorporates the look of citrus. The Magazine explains this colorful DIY project: “Using thin florist wire, create bunches with artificial citrus fruits, laurel branches, and berry branches; lay bunches on top of the frame, concentrating them in two opposite corners of the wreath.” The rest of the wire frame is filled out with bay branches. Not only is the end-result of this winter home decor project ideal for the season, but it will serve you well as you usher in spring.
Sunburst Winter Door Decor
If you have ever been tempted to add an elegant mirror to your home’s front door, now may be the time. Designers at Better Homes & Gardens applaud the idea of “[creating] an elegant wintertime entryway with a gold starburst mirror set between two wreaths.” This winter home decor accessory is reminiscent of Art Deco and 1970’s designs while also being thoroughly modern. It’s unexpected and stunning – something you and your guests will love seeing during a blustery season.
Make Your Mark on Your Home
If you love using chalk paint to create home decor, Martha Stewart Living has the perfect DIY project for you: A “Chalk-Painted Monogram Wooden Plaque.” We adore this affordable project because it allows you to put a unique stamp and personal signature on your front door without significant commitment. Any time you want to change the message, you can. If you want something slightly more permanent, like the gold stenciled monogram that the Magazine favors, you can do that, too. It’s also a project that doesn’t require a lot of time or supplies. As Martha Stewart Living reports: “Using craft and garden supplies you may already have, and a coat or two of matte-finish white chalk paint, [you can] turn your stoop into a stunner.”
Embrace Small Improvements
Real Simple encourages readers to think about the details when upgrading their winter home decor. “From sconces to numbers, the right outdoor accoutrements bring polish to any style of house,” according to the Magazine. Matte-brass lion front door knockers are wonderful additions to traditional homes. Doormats that boast geometric patterns are favored by the Magazine for “modern, Arts and Crafts, ranch, and split-level homes.” Meanwhile, quaint door-adjacent accessories, like a “copper gooseneck light [and] hammered house numbers” are perfect for any home with a cottage or farmhouse vibe. When refreshing your winter home decor, the delight really is in the details.